Police blotter: 14 Feb 2013

An alleged arson attack backfires on jilted wife
An attempted arsonist’s plans went up in smoke when a gang of vigilante villagers let their tempers flare in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district on Monday. According to police, a local woman, 28, who was infuriated that her husband was having an affair, bought a litre of gasoline and attempted to set his lover’s house on fire. A group of onlookers, however, leapt into action, punching and slapping the woman in the face. Police intervened and arrested the woman, but not her attackers. Kampuchea Thmey

Act of kindness, sort of, after motorbikes crash
In a rare turn of events, a man thought to be responsible for a traffic accident delivered two injured men, 21 and 23, to a hospital in Kampot province’s Kampong Trach district on Monday. In a not so rare turn, he then fled the scene before being identified. According to police, the two men were on a motorbike when they collided with another bike on a dark street, sustaining multiple injuries. The driver of the other bike took the men to the sidewalk right in front of the hospital, and sped away. Police are still searching for the man. Kampuchea Thmey

In this arson, husband is in the hot seat with law
Marital woes played hell on amateur firefighters this week, with yet another relationship resulting in arson in the Romeas Hek district of Svay Rieng on Tuesday. According to police, a 40-year-old man, despairing that his wife had walked out on him to live with relatives, set fire to his wooden home. His property was completely consumed. Police arrested the man. Nokorwat

Long phone call is origin of, like, real crazy drama
A 23-year-old man’s jealousy got the best of him in Kandal province’s Khsach Kandal district, sending him into a rage on Monday. While spending time with his girlfriend at her house, police said, the man became increasingly agitated by the hour-long phone conversation the young lady was having with another man. Unable to contain himself, the man began smashing everything in sight, from glasses to chairs to a nearby ice bucket. The girl’s mother called the police, who showed up and arrested the bucket-bashing beau. Nokorwat

Car stolen from military, case cracked in no time
A hapless thief was apprehended on Tuesday in Preah Sihanouk province’s Prey Nob district after stealing a car from the wrong man – a Phnom Penh military police officer. According to military police, the victim parked his Camry at a garage in Phnom Penh for the night only to find it missing on his return. The car, and its driver, was picked up in Preah Sihanouk by military police there. The suspect confessed to the crime, claiming he was jobless and broke. Koh Santepheap